Slaying Self Doubt
How to Fight Back.
“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.” —William Shakespeare
Self-doubt can sneak in at any stage of the writing process. You might start to question your ability to finish a book while you're still in the middle of writing it, feel tempted to abandon it during the editing phase, hesitate before submitting it to an agent or hitting the publish button, or dread the moment when the book is finally out and the reviews start rolling in—especially if they’re not as positive as you’d hoped. Even when things seem to be going well, it’s easy to imagine everything that could potentially go wrong.
We all encounter moments when self-doubt threatens to derail our writing journey. Personally, I find reader reviews to be especially tough. Whether there aren't enough of them or the feedback feels disappointing, these thoughts often take over and stifle my motivation to start a new project.
So, how do we deal with self-doubt, aside from reaching for a bottle of booze or a tub of ice cream? Here are some of my suggestions, and I’d love to hear yours as well—feel free to share them under the 'Leave a Comment' section.
Realize You’re Not Alone: Every writer experiences self-doubt at some point. It’s a universal part of the creative process.
Accept Growth as Part of the Journey: Remember, you are constantly learning and evolving as a writer. With every book you write, you’re honing your skills. Embrace this growth and understand that each project is a stepping stone toward becoming a better writer. Every book is a journey—some may lead you up, while others might lead you down.
Understand That Reader Reactions Are Beyond Your Control: Every book is unique and will evoke different responses from readers. It’s important to realize that you can't control how people will perceive your work, and that’s okay. What you can control is how you react to reviews and criticism.
Focus on Yourself, Not Others: Concentrate on your own progress and satisfaction with your writing, rather than comparing yourself to others or worrying about their success.
Enjoy the Journey: Try to focus on the joy of writing itself, rather than being overly concerned with the end result or destination.
Reflect on Your Successes: When you're feeling down, revisit your past achievements. Remind yourself of what you’ve accomplished and the positive feedback you’ve received.
Use Self-Doubt as a Tool for Improvement: Self-doubt isn’t always a bad thing. It can remind you to think critically about your work and push yourself to improve. Embrace it as a motivator rather than a roadblock.
Share below under leave a comment, how you deal with self doubt in your writing:
With thousands of variables affecting every stage of the writing process, I’ve had my share of doubts, too. My personal expectations and standards challenged the reality of what was in the industry.
I took a step back, and discovered it’s expensive to be an author. I could spend thousands of dollars promoting my work, but when it’s said and done, the stories will only resonate with certain readers. It’s trial and error finding those people. This is true for all authors. The luckiest writers get a helping hand in the form of excellent distribution, emotional support and camaraderie in their publishing house.
I don’t allow myself to stress out. I write. Some readers will like it and some won’t. While I love validation as much as anyone, getting hung up on book sales and comparing myself to other writers sucks the joy out of storytelling. My goal is to create something that someone will love and to do it better than last time. Success comes in different forms.
I saw an interview on YouTube that put this topic into perspective. The writer who created Spiderman was told his idea was ridiculous. His publisher was just about to pull the plug on a comic series he was working on. In fact, the final issue was going out. He went against the boss and included Spiderman. He even had it put on the cover.
When the sales report came a month later, interest and sales had skyrocketed. His Spiderman revived a dying publication. His advice to us was to ignore the idiots who want to discourage you. If you feel you have a good idea, develop the work. Some people in the industry don’t have a clue, but they like to plant seeds of doubt in a writer’s brain. Others aren’t that toxic, but they’re not helpful.
One of the variables we can’t control is there’s always someone who wants to knock someone else down with negativity. Let your mind be your safe zone. Negative thoughts hinder a writer’s confidence and creativity. Imagine a world without Spiderman.
Thank you, Ellen. You said something I really needed to hear tonight, and I think others could benefit from it as well. It’s so important to keep everything in perspective. You can write a great book, but it might not resonate with everyone, and that's okay. I also loved hearing about the Spider-Man story—I'd never heard that before!